E-book readers in comparison: Kindle and the best alternatives. (Image: denniro / Shutterstock)
E-books and e-book readers have become not as prevalent in Germany as the traditional book industry initially feared. The digital books and devices have a number of advantages. You can store thousands of e-books on it – in e-pub or mobi format. The e-ink display used in modern e-book readers enables mirror-free reading in direct sunlight. Due to the integrated lighting that is usually present, the e-books can also be read in the evening – with less interference than with the night light lamp.
- E-book readers: What are the advantages and disadvantages?
- Users: inside: Which e-book reader fits to whom?
- Price comparison: How much do e-book readers cost?
- E-book readers in comparison: make purchasing decisions easier
- 10 plus 2 recommended e-book readers at a glance:
- Kindle Oasis 3
- Tolino Epic 2
- E-book reader with giant display
- Pocketbook Inkpad X
- Digital readers: The middle class
- Tolino Vision 5
- Kindle Paperwhite 4
Onyx Boox Note 3
Pocketbook Touch HD 3
E-book reader: What are the advantages and disadvantages?
E-books are available around the clock from relevant providers and can be read on the device within minutes be made. Services such as online lending, Kindle Unlimited, Tolino Select or Skoobe offer the option of consuming e-books in a flat-rate model. Older readers appreciate the fact that an e-book reader can enlarge the font. In addition, the e-ink technology ensures a long battery life of several days to a few weeks compared to tablets or smartphones. Some of the devices have the ability to play MP3 files.
One of the disadvantages is that, due to the display, videos or games can hardly be represented meaningfully. With exceptions such as playing audio books, the e-book reader is almost exclusively intended for reading. Tech-savvy reading fans therefore have an additional and often not exactly cheap device that they have to take with them. It is also important for the purchase decision that you first have to decide whether you want to use a Kindle device to tie yourself to the admittedly user-friendly Amazon ecosystem (AZW / MOBI format) or whether you want to use the devices of the (more) open competition (e- Pub format).
Users: inside: Which e-book reader suits whom?
E-book readers are, of course, generally the best for reading e-books due to their almost exclusive suitability Popular readers: suitable for indoors. For an affordable entry into the e-book universe, we of course recommend the entry-level devices in our list. Anyone who not only reads on vacation and every now and then on the weekend, but actually always and everywhere, could look forward to a little more comfort. Then it is worth reaching for a middle or upper class device.
For reading specialist literature, especially in PDF form, you should use a device with a display diagonal of ten inches. Then the PDF can be read page by page, without annoying shuffling and zooming in or out. These devices can also be used as a second screen for the computer. The colored e-book readers, in turn, should appeal to comic fans in particular.
Price comparison: How much do e-book readers cost?
An important aspect when choosing the right e-book reader is of course the price. Especially when using it next to a smartphone, tablet and notebook, there may not necessarily be a lot of money for a dedicated e-book reader. Good entry-level devices such as Amazon’s Kindle or the competing Tolino Alliance are available for well under 100 euros. If you want to save, you should pay attention to the regular discount campaigns. Often savings of 20 to 30 euros are included.
If you want to read e-books a lot and well, you should have between 200 and 300 euros to buy the device. But it can also be more expensive, namely when it comes to reading PDF files on a large screen. Then an e-book reader costs 500 euros and more. For color e-book readers, the price range extends from 200 to 400 euros.
E-book readers in comparison: make purchasing decisions easier
In the following, we present ten recommended e-book readers with their special features and possible restrictions. There is little you can go wrong with any of these devices. Afterwards you will also find two e-book readers that come up with a feature that is much in demand, but still rarely represented.
10 plus 2 recommended E- Book reader at a glance:
Kindle Oasis 3
In the summer of 2019, Amazon presented the current model of its luxury e-book reader Kindle Oasis 3. The reader is considered to be one of the best on the market – but it also has its price. For the e-book reader from Amazon you pay 229.99, 259.99 or 319.99 euros, depending on the version. The cheapest device has eight gigabytes of internal memory and a WLAN connection. The middle price applies to the Oasis model with 32 gigabytes of memory and WLAN Link. Of the most expensive Oasis 3 also has a storage capacity of 32 gigabytes and a 4G Radio module. This means that e-books in Amazon’s own MOBI format can be downloaded for free, even if you are not in a WLAN.
At the The e-book reader Kindle Oasis 3 from Amazon allows you to change the color temperature of the front light. (Image: Amazon)
Compared to its predecessors, the Kindle Oasis has an optimized, seven-inch paper white display. It has the option of adjusting the color temperature of the front light – from white to amber. In addition, the new e-ink technology should also enable faster turning of the pages. The Oasis 3 is waterproof (IPX8) and can withstand immersion in fresh water for up to 60 minutes in a water depth of up to two meters. The device offers haptic buttons for turning pages. The battery life should be up to four weeks. The Kindle Oasis 3 also plays
More on the subject
- Audiobook apps: The most popular providers for streaming and downloading in comparison
- The Open Book is an open source Kindle alternative
- Amazon: Shutting down the 3G networks makes older Kindle readers useless in the USA
Tolino Epic 2
In autumn 2019, the Tolino Alliance launched a new edition of its upper-class e-book reader with the Epos 2. The display of the Epos 2 has grown slightly by 0.2 inches to a total of 8 inches. At the same time, however, the device is around 25 percent lighter. Like the Kindle Oasis 3, the Tolino e-book reader also has scroll keys. The automatic display rotation ensures – similar to smartphones and tablets – a quick change between reading in portrait and landscape format.
Epic 2 from the Tolino Alliance. (Image: Thalia)
The Epos 2 offers up to eight gigabytes of internal memory for up to 6,000 e-books in e-pub format. A WLAN function is on board. The battery should last for several weeks of reading pleasure. A highlight of the Epos 2 is the integrated reading light called Smartlight. This adapts to the color temperature depending on the time of day. Thanks to water protection, the Epos 2 can be immersed two meters deep in fresh water for up to 60 minutes. The reader costs 299 euros.
E-book reader with giant display
Pocketbook Inkpad X
With one for the e-book reader area The Inkpad X from Pocketbook scores with a very large display of 10.3 inches. The almost A4 format is intended to make it easier to read newspapers and comics in particular . Like the Epos 2, the Inkpad X also has Smartlight screen lighting that can be adapted to the biorhythm. A special feature of pocketbook devices: the e-book readers have a wide variety of formats and an integrated MP3 player for listening to music or audio books. In addition to Bluetooth, the reader also offers a USB-C audio adapter.
Inkpad X from Pocketbook – e-book reader with a large screen. (Photo: Pocketbook)
The Inkpad X has a 32 gigabyte memory. According to the Pocketbook, that is enough space for 15,000 e-books in e-pub format. As indicated above, the device can read 19 book and four graphic formats, including the comic book formats CBR and CBZ. Text-to-speech is also supported. The Inkpad X should be comfortable to use for both left and right-handers. The device costs 419 euros in the pocketbook shop. Amazon requires for the Inkpad X currently just under 400 euros.
Onyx Boox Note 3
The one also with a 10.3 inch Boox Note 3 from Onyx, equipped with a large screen, supports Android – and thus numerous third-party apps. The octa-core processor with 1.8 gigahertz should ensure that this works smoothly. Also interesting: the Boox Note 3 can mirror the desktop screen via WLAN – this turns the e-book reader into a second monitor. In addition, SD cards, keyboards or mice can be connected to the device without a driver. USB-C headphones are also supported.
Android e-reader Boox Note 3 supports Google Play and fingerprint scanners. (Image: Boox)
One advantage of a large e-book reader display is the ability to display PDF files. The Boox Note 3 also supports this with a range of PDF functions, such as a split screen mode. The Google translator can also be used. Annotations are possible using a stylus pen. A fingerprint scanner can be used to protect documents. That The device costs 550 euros at Amazon .
The Boox Note Air. Instead of 64 GB, however, there is only half as much memory with 32 GB. For this the price falls with just under 480 euros at Amazon also a bit lower.
Digital readers: The middle class
Tolino Vision 5
The Tolino Alliance recently gave the Vision series a completely new coat of paint. The device now has a seven-inch (Vision 4 HD) display instead of the previous six. Another positive feature is the control bar with two haptic buttons on the side, which is reminiscent of Kindle Oasis and Epos 2. Due to this and the built-in position sensor for automatic alignment of the content, a conveniently adjustable left-handed mode is also possible, for example.
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Like its big brother Epos 5, the Vision 5 also has Smartlight technology, so it can adapt the light color to the ambient light. The e-book reader also has water protection. According to the manufacturer, the battery life is several weeks. The Tolino Cloud, which offers 25 gigabytes of space, can be used. The device has eight gigabytes of storage space on board. After a starting price of 179 euros, the Vision 5 is currently being sold for 139 euros, for example here.*
Kindle Paperwhite 4
Amazon’s mid-range model Kindle Paperwhite received a major update in autumn 2018. Since then, the Paperwhite 4 has also been waterproof and has a flat display surface. The display is six inches. Amazon has doubled the storage space on the Paperwhite to eight gigabytes. There is also another version with 32 gigabytes and one with an additional 4G connection option. WiFi is on board in all three models. According to Amazon, one battery charge should last for weeks.
Kindle Paperwhite 4. (Photo: Amazon)
Because Amazon before mainly wants to earn money with the content, it offers its e-book readers comparatively cheaply. The device is currently in the eight gigabyte version
Pocketbook Touch HD 3
The six-inch Touch HD 3 from Pocketbook is a good alternative to the mid-range models from Amazon and the Tolino Alliance – its functions are even more convincing. Because this e-book reader has an integrated MP3 player plus audio adapter (USB to jack). In addition, as is usual with pocketbooks, the device can read many different e-book formats (for example e-pub, but not AZW / MOBI from Amazon). And: In addition to the touchscreen, there are haptic buttons for operation.
Pocketbook Touch HD 3. (Image: Pocketbook)
The waterproof e-book reader supports Dropbox as well as the pocketbook cloud. E-books can also be sent to the device using the Send-to-Pocketbook function. Incidentally, Amazon also offers a similar function (“Send-to-Kindle”). A 16 gigabyte memory is available on the Touch HD 3. There is also a position sensor, integrated WLAN and the aforementioned Smartlight. The Touch HD 3 currently costs from 150 euros online, for example here .
Onyx Boox Nova 3
The Boox Nova 3 from Onyx. Like its much bigger brother Boox Note 3, the Nova 3 also runs on Android 10 and supports – at least in theory – the Google Play Store. In this way, for example – also theoretically – the Kindle app from Amazon can be used. But that usually works rather badly than right. In addition, the e-book reader with the 7.8-inch display should be particularly suitable for displaying PDF files. Notes can be made with the included stylus.
Boox Nova 3 from Onyx with Android 10. (Image: Onyx)
An eight-core ARM processor with three gigabytes of RAM works under the hood. Up to 32 gigabytes of flash memory are available for e-books and other media. The Boox Nova 3 should react quickly. Also interesting: According to the manufacturer, the front lighting can be regulated in 32 levels, including a setting option for the light temperature. At the competitor Amazon is the Nova 3 for 319.99 euros .
Cheap entry-level devices
Kindle (2019)
Especially suitable for beginners is the cheapest reader in the Amazon universe, the Kindle (2019). The e-book reader usually costs from 79.99 euros (with advertising ). Whereby Amazon often grants discounts on its own products. The Kindle now has built-in lighting. The battery should last a few weeks. As with the more expensive Kindle models, the inexpensive e-book reader can also be used to listen to Audible audiobooks – via a Bluetooth connection. Unlike the other Kindle devices, the entry-level reader only needs four gigabytes of storage space. The resolution of the six-inch display is 167 PPI. There are no physical scroll keys.
(instead of 89 euros) to have.
New in the range: Colored e-book readers
New in the range: Colored e-book readers
For a long time, many fans of digital reading – especially comic friends den – waited for an e-book reader with a color display. Now there are some devices in Germany too. We would like to introduce two of them to you here.
Pocketbook Color
The Pocketbook Color offers a six inch screen that is built in thanks to the en E-Ink-Kaleido-Displays can display photos or illustrations with 4,096 colors. In addition, the e-ink carta layer also contained in the display ensures a resolution of 1,448 x 1,072 pixels (300 ppi). This means that black text in particular is displayed very sharply on a light background. If the font is completely colored, the display is somewhat blurred.
Colored e-book reader Pocketbook Color. (Image: Pocketbook)
Weighing only 160 grams and eight millimeters thick, the colored e-book reader from Pocketbook is comparatively light and narrow. On board the Pocketbook Color there is enough space for e-books on 16 gigabytes of memory. The storage space can be expanded using a memory card. The e-book reader also masters WLAN and Bluetooth for the MP3 player function. Instead of a smartlight, however, a normal background light is installed. The Pocketbook Color is on Amazon for 190 euros .
Onyx Boox Nova 3 Color
The Russian reader manufacturer Onyx has the second recommendable e-book reader with color display on the market. Like its pocketbook counterpart, the Onyx Boox Nova 3 Color relies on the Kaleido display from E-Ink – but the screen of the Nova 3 Color is 7.8 inches (resolution: 1,872 by 1,404 pixels). With a thickness of 7.7 millimeters, the color e-book reader is slim, but weighs 540 grams.
An eight-core Cortex processor with up to 1.8 gigahertz speed. It is supported by three gigabytes of RAM. The e-books, including those in e-pub format, can be stored on the internal 32 gigabyte memory. The device runs on Android 10, which among other things allows access to the Play Store. In addition to the adjustable front light, speakers and a microphone are also on board. At Amazon it costs Onyx Boox Nova 3 Color currently 400 euros .
Conclusion on the e-book reader comparison
Have in the past few months the dominant manufacturers in Germany Amazon, Tolino or Pocketbook hardly made any major technical changes to their e-book readers. Only the subject of color is relatively new on the mass market. Users should choose their preferred e-book reader based on their reading habits. The entry-level devices also offer everything you need. Anyone who has special requirements for an e-book reader, such as an extra large display, Android or color, has to dig a little deeper into their pockets. It is important to make a decision in advance for Amazon or the alternative providers such as the Tolino Alliance.
